Used to happen every couple of months, now its everytime I start my truck. The a/c will not blow cold air until I cycle the key, sometimes once and last night it took almost ten miles to work before it started working. This morning coming home it never did work. Think it may be my control panel inside the truck is going bad? Everything else works fine,blower speed, temp and will change to feet, defrost, etc... After it kicks in it'll freeze you out.....
Any ideas?

 

So what are you saying??? It is not blowing air out the vents or is it that the air that is coming out is not cold?

 

Air is not cold

 

Where do you live? As hot as it has been everybodies A/C is struggling. Did you have it on recirc?

 

Lets try this: the compressor will not kick in until after "X" # of key cycles.
After the compressor kicks in it will freeze you out (hence working properly not struggling)
Not the safest, but while driving down the road I can turn the key off and back on and mostimes the a/c will start blowing cold air instead of hot air.

 

Sounds like the Thermo control module. Nissan have a part like this also but when they went out, No A/C at all. What this module does is take the temp reading on the evaporator coils and cuts on and off the compressor to prevent freezing up the evap.

 

Common problem with early 3rd gen trucks, not sure about the 06.
Mine does the same thing. It has been found to be the ignition switch, on the 03's anyway.

 

When my 07 did this they replaced the AC compressor under warranty. 35800 miles .

 

I'm with fade94 on this one. My '03 does the exact same thing from time to time but also from time to time my stereo is non-existent. Most times I just deal with it until I get to where I'm going but if I do cycle the key everything goes back to normal. Have heard several times about faulty ignition switches on early 3rd gens.

 

Also check the electrical connection on back of the HVAC unit. Try unplugging and plugging.

MikeyB

 

In the shop now, turns out the clutch was going out on the a/c. New compressor, dryer, upgraded orifice line, and $792. Cold a/c.......priceless.

 

Got all new parts and mechanic calls and says it gets cool but a/c cycles longer than they like. Asks if the upgraded orifice line causes them symptoms. Idk. Thought it lowered high side pressure and let's you squeeze a little more freon in the system. Am I correct and did any of y'all notice these symptoms?
Says you can feel the air in the vents warm up a tad before ac kicks in

 

You are correct, You can squeeze 2.00lbs in it with the new line. The factory fill is 1.88 lbs.

 

With the upgraded orifice line has anybody noticed the a/c getting warm before it cycles. It doesn't do it all the time. I have a temp gauge in my ac vent and every now and then it will warm up ten or fifteen degrees before the ac kicks on again.
I want to take it back to the shop but I'll betcha they blame it on the orifice line......need some backing before I go in.